Refrigeration apparatus



Sept. 3, 1946. w. P. JoNEs REFRI-GERATION APPARATUS Filed Jan. so, 1945Patented Sept. 3, 1946 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Welten Baul Jones, Rydal,Bag, `misi-grunt,to Bhilco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., -acorporation .of

Pennsylvania Application January 30, 1945, 4Serial No. 575,204

2 Claims. (Cl. 625-102) This invention relates to refrigerationand moreparticularly .to refrigerationapnaratus designed forthe vstorage anddispensing of ice cream or other foodstuifs. Y

Cabinets for this purpose are conventionally of the horizontaltop-access type, with cooling means formed, at least in part, integrallywith thecabinet structure. Several Vdisadvantages arey associated withthis type of constructionofjwhich the diihculty of servicingof the unitis the most important.

Like all mechanicalrefrigeration systems, those used forcoolng thisVtype of refrigerator cabinet are subject` to Vfailure which howeverinfrequent is still serious because of the large quantity of perishablefood that may be involved. Obviously, when such failures occur immediateservice attention is imperative if .spoiiage .of the stored food is tobe prevented. Such immediate service may be unavailable, or ifavailable, the failure maybe of a character rendering the immediaterepairs required to restore the unit to operation impossible.

The present invention has for its principal ob.- ject, therefore, the`provision of an improvedapparatus for storing and dispensing ice creamor other foodstuffs, which will be `free from the aforesaiddisadvantages.

Another` object of the invention is to provideV an improved portablecooling unit for refrigerators.

The 'invention further contemplates provision or refrigeration apparatusof the `horizontal topaccess type of portablecooling means adapted forquick replacement in the event of system failure,

To this end the invention alsoV contemplates a horizontal topi-accesscabinet having a portable cooling unit comprising the usual compressor,condenser and evaporator in series ow circuit all contained in aseparate housing secured in convenient releasable manner to one end ofthe said cabinet and constructed and arranged so that More particularlythe cooling uni-t of the present; invention is constructedand arrangedSo as to be readily` detachable from the main cabinet structure in amanner for quick and easy Vreplacement by another and operable unit inthe event of a system failure.

A preferredembodiinent of the invention has beenillustrated in theattached drawing, Wherein: Y

`figure lisa partial longitudinal sectional and side elevational view ofrefrigeration apparatus embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a-horizontal sectional view of the apparatus takensubstantially on `the line V2-2 thereof.

With reference to the drawing, the embodiment ofthe invention thereinillustrated comprises an elongated generally rectangular cabinetstructure lil constructed in accordancewith methods wellknown in therefrigerator art.

VMore specifically, the cabinet structure includes an outer shell II andan inner liner I2, the liner .being supported within the shell inthermally spaced relation therewith, as indicated at I3, and the spaceI3 being. lled with a suitable insulating material I4 of .known type.

Depending within the interior space I6, defined .by liner i2, are aplurality of containers I'I for .holding the ice cream or otherrefrigerated food.- stuff. While only two containers have been shown,it` should be understood that in practicing .the `invention any `desirednumber may be em.- zployed. The containers II are secured to the topWall I8 of the cabinet structure Iin conventional manner, as at I9., thedetails of the securing means being omitted as unnecessary to a completeunderstanding of the invention. The vtop-access openings of thecontainers may be 4closed by suitable covers 2l `provided preferablywith conventional sealing Ygaskets 2.2-

In the structure disclosed, the liner defined space. I5 is dividedintoupper and lower air passages-or channels, 23 and 24 respectively, by ahorizontal baille member 26which, as more clearly shown in Figure `2,has its longitudinal side edges secured to the side walls 2T of theliner in suit- .ablemanner as, for example, by welding. It is to benoted that one end3of the baille 26, the right, as Jviewed in thedrawing, terminatesin spaced relation 4with the endrwall 28 of theliner, as indicated `at 29, thereby affording open communicationVbetween the `air channels "23 and 24 at that end of space I5. 'Theopposite end wall Bil `of the cabihet is .provided with `an opening 3Icompletely surrounded by an insulating'molding or breaker.- strip A32which bridges the gap between the edges of Vthe outer shell and theinner liner required for a thermal break between `said shell andliner.

In accordance with the present invention a `second cabinet orfhousingstructure .36 is provided `for the cooling ,unit-'Which includes. acompressor 31, condenser 38 and evaporator 39 all connected in seriesflow circuit as by conduits 4|. The condenser is supported in the upperportion of the wall 42 of housing 36 between opposed inwardly turnedportions 43 of the wall and has its side edges enclosed between opposedmembers 44, see Figure 2. The condenser is cooled by an electricmotor-driven fan 45, the said motor 46 being supported on a bracket 41secured to the opposite wall 48 of housing 35. The compressor 31 ismounted on a pair of spaced supporting members 49, 49, the ends of whichare secured to the said opposite walls in suitable manner, as bywelding.

It is to be noted that thehousing 36 is provided with a plurality ofshort legs 50 which afford a space between the bottom wall '5| of thehousing and the iioor 52 upon which the cabinet rests. The bottom wall5| of the cabinet is provided with an opening 53 which permits freecirculation of air from beneath the housing upwardly around thecompressor and through the condenser when fan 45 is being actuated bythe motor 45 in response to a demand for additional refrigeration.

The wall 48 comprises in effect a closure member for the opening 3| inthe end wall 3l] of the main cabinet structure ID, As illustrated, thiswall 48 is formed by spaced inner and outer panel members, 56 and 51respectively, which are joined about their peripheries by top and bottommembers 58 and 59, see Figure 1, and side members 6|, 62, 63 and B4,which form a box-like structure, said structure being lled with suitableinsulating material indicated by the numeral 66. It will be noted thatthe members 58, '59, 63 and 64 have portions 61, 68, 39 and 'IBrespectively, which extend into the opening 3| to a depth substantiallyequal to the thickness of the cabinet wall.

The top member 5S also includes a downwardly turned portion 1I whichsubstantially encloses the area bounded by closure panel 51 and portions61, 58, 69 and 13, and forms this area into a vertical air space orchamber indicated at 12. The bafile 26 abuts the wall portion 1|, asshown in Figure l.

Within the upper portion of the air channel 12 is a blower rotor 13which is driven by the motor 46 through a shaft 14 extending through theinsulated closure member. It is to be understood that suitable bearingsand fittings (not shown) will be provided for the shaft 14 in accordancewith conventional mechanical practice.

The upper part of the said downwardly turned portion 1I of top member 58is provided with an air inlet opening 16 in alignment with thecentrifugal rotor 13. An opening 11 is also provided in the bottom partof the member 1I below'the baffle 25 in which opening the evaporator 39is positioned, An extension 18 of lower member 68 supports theevaporator which extends upwardly to the said baille.

A peripheral gasket 19 is provided around the opening 3| and between thehousing 36 and cabinet III so as to seal the joint therebetween Means isalso provided to properly align the housing and cabinet structures whenassembled and to hold them against accidental relative displacement.While any of several well known means may be utilized for this purpose,the illustrated structure employs a plurality of machine screws 8| theShanks of which pass through a fixed portion of the housing 3B, such aslugs 82 (Figure l), or the shell (Figure 2), and is threaded into afixed portion of cabinet I8, such as the shell I I, as indicated at 83.To facilitate removal of these screws,

access openings 84 have'been provided in the Cil 4 housing, eachprovided with a spring clip closure member of well known type.

A suitable electrical circuit (not shown), responsive to the temperaturein space I6 of the cabinet III in accordance with well knownrefrigerator practice, may be provided to automatically controloperation of the motor compressor 31 and of the motor 46.

In the use of the apparatus to cool the food stored in the containers I1to the desired temperature, and to maintain said temperature, theapparatus is operated in response to said thermally responsive controlcircuit to produce a refrigerating effect in the evaporator 39 whichthen acts to absorb heat from the air within the space I6, said airbeing circulated over and in contact with the chilled surfaces of theevaporator. Circulation of the air is accomplished by the blower 13, theactuating motor 46 of which may be connected in series with theaforesaid control circuit so that when a demand for additional coolingdevelops, as evidenced by closing of the control circuit in response toincreased temperature in the space I6, the motor 46 will be energizedand through the blower will draw air from along the length of upperchannel 23 and force it downwardly in chamber 4I and outwardly throughthe coils and fins of the evaporator. From the evaporator the cooled airpasses along the length of lower compartment 24 and returns to the uppercompartment through the space between the end of baille 26 and wall 28of space I6. This circulation continues until the atmosphere withinspace I5 is reduced to the desired temperature, at which time theaforesaid control circuit will open to shut off further operation of theapparatus. It is to be understood that while the air is circulating asdescribed it swirls around the containers in intimate heat exchangecontact with the walls thereof, and also with the walls of the saidspace I3. Thus the heat entering through the insulated wall of chamber Iand the walls of containers I1 is picked up by the circulating air andpassed to the evaporator and to the refrigerant circulating therethroughin the manner well understood in the art.

The motor 46 will also operate the fan 45 to cool the condenser andcompressor by drawing air from the iloor upwardly around the compressorand then forcing it outwardly through the condenser as described,

As previously pointed out such refrigerating systems are subject tooccasional failure, at which times immediate service is imperative inorder to prevent spoilage of the contents of containers I1. With thepresent invention the refrigerator may be restored to service by merelyreleasing the screws 8|, removing the inoperative unit, and immediatelyreplacing it with an operative unit which may be left in placepermanently or until the inoperative unit has been repaired at a serviceplant adequately equipped to restore it to proper running condition.

I claim:

1. In refrigeration apparatus, a heat-insulated cabinet having anapertured wall, a food container within and in spaced relation with thewalls of said cabinet, a partition in the cabinet forming adjoiningcommunicating passages each embracing a portion of said container,portable cooling means detachably connected to said cabinet and havingan insulated wall adapted to close said aperture, said portable meansfurther comprising compressor, condenser and motor elements mounted atthe outer side of'said wall and an evaporator and an impeller mounted atthe inner side of said Wall, said impeller being operatively connectedwith the said motor, and said evaporator and impeller being arrangedWith respect to said partition so that operation of the impeller iseffective to set up a circulation of air through the passages and overthe surfaces of the evaporator.

2. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination with a heat-insulatedcabinet having an apertured side wall and an apertured top wall of afood container depending Within said cabinet through said top wallaperture, a horizontal partition dividing the interior of the cabinetinto upper and lower passages respectively embracing the upper and lowerportions of the container and communicating at the ends, portablecooling means detachably connected to said cabinet and having aninsulated wall adapted to close said side wall aperture, said coolingmeans further comprising a compressor, a condenser and a motor at theouter side of said Wall, and an evaporator and an impeller at the innerside, said evaporator constituting an element of a refrigerating systemincluding also said compressor and condenser and being located in one ofsaid passages, and

said impellerbeing operatively connected with .said motor and beinglocated in the other of said passages.

WELTON PAUL JONES.

